Resolute man died of bacterial infection

The body of a Resolute Bay man who died suddenly on Oct. 8 was returned to his home community from Edmonton, where an autopsy determined he died of septicemia or pneumococcal disease.

Michael Pudluk, 35, had initially sought medical attention at Resolute Bay’s health centre for flu-like symptoms.

The autopsy revealed elevated levels of pneumococcus bacteria, which occurs in most people but at much lower levels, said Tim Neily, Nunavut’s administrative coroner.

The Government of Nunavut’s health department initiated a pneumococcus vaccination program in Resolute Bay following Pudluk’s death.

However, a territorial wide pneumococcus vaccination program has been in effect for at least a year.

In some cases, pneumococcus can develop into meningitis.